Camera Question (Digital vs. Optical Zoom)

Optical zoom is FAR superior to digital. Digitial is very shaky and gets blurred easily. Aside from that, I replaced my first easyshare with a panasonic lumix (not the one you mention), and HATED it. It was no where near as good as the Kodak Easyshare I had, so I returned it after a week, and did more hunting until I found a newer Kodak Easyshare model.

I need a new camera too

Oh I wish I could help...but I will check back to see what kind of advice you get! I have an hp camera, nothing fancy. But, I have been using my mom to take most of the pictures I've posted here on Gather. It's a fugifilm camera, and has 10x optical zoom, so it takes better photos them mine. I would love to get one of those really expensive cameras with the fancy lenses...the kind that take those amazing photos of the inside of a flower, or a super closeup of a bug...wouldn't that be nice! of

Heather,
I really don't know the difference. The camera I've been using to post pics on here is a FujiPix A700. I like the picture quality but the buttons are a bit awkward, it shuts off quickly and the batteries don't last long. I use rechargable batteries and if I spend a few hours taking pictures, I have to have a spare set.
So I guess I'd suggest getting the sales person to let you try out the camera in the store to see if you like the controls. Good luck.

Optical is far better than digital. The optical zoom is real the digital just takes a smaller piece of the picture and enhances it. I'm not sure which Nikon I've looked at, but it had both. If it was 35mm SLR I say go with the Nikon. But if it doesn't have an optical zoom I go for the other. I agree with trying it out in the store...most stores have them where you can check them out.

Optical zoom is magnification. There's the same amount of information in a picture taken at full zoom as there is in one taken with no zoom. Digital zoom is like looking at a picture on your computer and zooming in on it. Pretty soon the image gets pixelated because digital zoom doesn't increase the detail. The simplest thing to do is ignore digital zoom.

You may be happy with a camera in the 3 or 4x optical zoom range. At around $250 you can get a camera with 10x optical zoom or a camera with 3 or 4x. The difference is in other features that may or may not be important to you.

If you're interested in family snapshots and vacation pictures you should be able to find a camera that makes you happy in the $150-$250 range. The amount of zoom isn't necessarily the most important feature. Noelle made a very good suggestion. You need to fool around with cameras at a store and get an idea of how it feels to operate them.

I have a Coolpix and I love it but I never use the zoom. It is my pocket camera, the camera that is always in my back pocket just in case.

If this is going to be your "everything" camera, go for the optical zoom. You have digital zoom on your computer and you don't need it in the camera.

I've been planning to get a new camera a while still planning!

I agree with some of the others above optical zoom is much superior to digital zoom.

Optical zoom! As some said, digital zoom isn't "real" zoom. It's sort of like cropping your photo before you take it. Then if you try to crop further in the editing phase, your picture quality suffers.

My older digital is a Fuji with 3MP, a 6x digital and 3X optical zoom. It worked like this: When I set the MP at 3, I have no digital zoom, just the optical. It takes pretty good pictures that can still be croped a bit in Photoshop. To get the extra zoom, I have to drop the resolution - all the way down to 1MP to get the full 3x. I might get further with the zoom, but prints have to be small to avoid pixelation. What's the point? I NEVER use the digital zoom on that camera - always shoot at the highest resolution and then crop further if the zoom isn't quite long enough. MUCH better quality that way.

Of course now that camera is just a "backup" since I'm thoroughly spoiled with my Canon DSLR.

I use a 3.3 MPXL Panasonic.... it is FINE I can get huge prints from small files.

be SURE you get one that has a Leica lens on it, makes a lot of difference.

Also even though I know how (shot for years on film), I SELDOM come off the 'Auto' on the panasonic. It is a pretty smart box.

Optical!! it is clearer

Optical. Digital you can do with a photo editor.

hi, i rec'd your mail and connection request...we be connected now!...thanks.....per your camera question...i still shoot film with a 35mm Nikon SLR...i hope to eventually get a DSLR Nikon when i go digital so that i can use my current lenses as well as Nikon has excellent "glass" and is reliable...sorry, i don't know much about digital pt. n' shoot cameras, but Jimmy U. is a good one to ask and i see he has left a com for you above...

any serious/experienced photog will tell you that how you "frame your shot" in-camera which is your "composition" is most important...unless a close-up,or macro, you can shoot wide (shoot from a distance to include more of the setting of subject matter) so that you can make a decision about cropping to get the most effective comp....sometimes you won't have to crop and will get a high impact shot framed in-camera....perspective (angle of shot), direction of light and contrast levels, and clarity (unless going for an intentional blurred shot), and DOF (depth of field)...determined by your aperture setting...what remains focused vs. what blurs in your shot, are all key elements to keep in mind when shooting....those are some basics and best to shoot,shoot,shoot to practice and with a digital of course you can delete the ones that are less successful....

cheers,gayle

No idea....but thanks for asking...this has been informative

digital zoom sucks, id stick with optical.

optical; defineltly!!

Heather, did you ask your mom? I don't know anything but point and shoot, but I would pick out the pictures I like on gather and then see what camera those people are using.

dropping by to check out your stuff and leaving you a 10